Understanding the updated PA Rabies Law

During the month of January, I will be writing about topics related to dog and cat vaccination. Although pets often receive multiple vaccines, there is only one disease for which vaccination is required by law: RABIES. In the U.S., all 50 states require vaccination for rabies. Most states specify this is for dogs and cats, but a few states, such as Washington and Vermont, also include ferrets in their statutes. Rabies vaccination of dogs, cats, and ferrets is required for one reason: to protect human health. Did you know that before 1960, most animal cases of rabies were in domesticated animals (like dogs, cats, and horses)? Now, over 90% of animal cases are in wildlife. In the early 1900’s, there were more than 100 human deaths caused by the rabies virus, whereas presently there are only one or two per year. This life-saving flip-flop occurred due to widespread rabies vaccination of domestic animals. In sharp contrast to the situation in the U.S., an estimated 55,000 people die from rabies worldwide each year. The rabies virus attacks the central nervous system in mammals, and by the time symptoms are present, the disease is nearly always fatal.

In Pennsylvania, the Rabies Act was signed into law in December 1986. The law includes control measures for both wildlife and domestic animals. In September of 2013, the PA State Legislature passed Act 65, which amends the 1986 Rabies Act. As a veterinarian, I find that there are often questions about the rabies law. Here is a summary of Act 65 and how it impacts you:

Kennel operators are now required to collect proof of up-to-date rabies vaccination of every dog as it enters the kennel. This proof must be kept on file for 7 days after the dog leaves the kennel. In the event there is a dog fight in a kennel, each owner of a dog involved in the attack must be provided with all rabies vaccination records and owner contact information.

Dogs and cats must be vaccinated for rabies between 12 and 16 weeks of age.

Dogs and cats must receive their next rabies vaccine 12-14 months after the initial one.

After that, rabies vaccines are good for however long the label on the vaccine states. For most of the currently marketed rabies vaccines, this means 3 years. In the future, if we have a rabies vaccine with a 5-year label, the law allows us to write a certificate for 5 years. It’s worth mentioning here that studies are underway to show whether rabies vaccines give immunity that lasts longer than 3 years. You can learn more about this at Rabies Challenge Fund.

A veterinarian can now exempt a dog or cat from receiving a rabies vaccination, if he or she has examined the animal and determines it would be medically inadvisable to give the rabies vaccine. The veterinarian must write a letter explaining why the animal must not get a rabies shot, and the letter is good for one year. Note that this animal is considered unvaccinated and cannot be boarded in a licensed kennel, and also would have to undergo a 6-month quarantine if exposed to rabies.

Licensed veterinarians must give the rabies vaccine. If the licensed veterinarian is on the premises, he or she may give oral or written instructions to a certified veterinary technician to administer the rabies vaccine.

The law states that veterinarians must give you a Certificate of Vaccination and a metal rabies tag bearing the year of vaccination.

The owner of a dog or cat must show proof of rabies vaccination or the medical exemption letter within 48 hours after a dog warden, police officer, or other designated animal control officer requests the proof.

On New Years Day in the Palm Beach, FL area, two dogs were attacked by a raccoon that later tested positive for rabies. Thankfully, both dogs were vaccinated for rabies and are undergoing a 45-day quarantine in their home as a precaution. This recent event illustrates how important it is to keep your pets vaccinated against rabies, both to protect their health and your family’s health. Are your pets rabies vaccinations overdue? Contact any local veterinary office for an appointment, or visit a vaccine clinic in your area. If you have questions about rabies and rabies vaccination that I didn’t cover, post a comment and I’ll answer as soon as I can!

Dr. Carney,
Thanks for discussing this important subject. I know you are in Penna. and sure you have the 3 year vaccines too as in Florida. I have had the front desk clerk tell me they wouldn’t pull my Aussies infected tooth without Bordatella. Not wanting to vaccinate when not necessary, I just found another vet. Also, the law here reads that you only should vaccinate “healthy” dogs. So as our pets age, this is something to discuss with our vets. I had a 13 y/o Aussie full of bone cancer needless to say, I let her last days at home remain vaccine free. I also wonder if these vaccines effect the thyroid?

Hello – yes we have the 3 year rabies vaccine here in Pennsylvania. And you are absolutely right, vaccine labels state they are to be given only to healthy dogs. So I would argue that your Aussie with an infected tooth who required dental surgery and probably was treated with antibiotics, was not a good candidate for a Bordetella vaccine at that moment. For sure, any dog with cancer of any kind, should not be vaccinated. Regarding the thyroid gland, some cases of hypothyroidism in dogs are caused by an autoimmune condition. So vaccines again may be contraindicated in this case. Best wishes to you with your dogs!

Rabies laws apply to dogs and cats kept as pets, and they are in place solely to protect human health due to the nearly 100% fatality rate with rabies infection. Therefore, the laws have been written to state that rabies vaccination is only valid when given by a licensed veterinarian. There are no laws for vaccination of dogs and cats against any other diseases. Pet owners may choose to vaccinate their own pets against distemper, parvovirus, etc. While rabies vaccine can be purchased and administered by a non-veterinarian, from a purely legal standpoint, the vaccine will not be recognized. Not saying this is right or wrong, just explaining the law and how it could impact a pet owner who decides to vaccinate his own pet for rabies.

Hi Dr, Carney,
I love this post! I have moved around a lot with my job and therefore have been in many vets offices. I would like to elaborate on the vaccine issue as I have had new vet techs, set out 8 bottles in the exam room for the Doctor which he said was common procedure for all new clients. My little Katie who has since passed from cancer/ esrd was 14 years old at the time and I refused all the vaccines, stating that the law in Florida reads, “only healthy dogs are to be vaccinated”. That being said, I would like people to be encouraged to refuse anything they have doubts about, until they can get all the facts. Furthermore, I did titers on my 2 aussies, and they came back “high” and “high positive” on their titers after 9 years, for Canine ICH, CPV, AND CDV. So we are definitely over vaccinating our pets. I have provided a link for Dr. Jean Dodds, a great vetinarian like yourself that fights for our pets and their health.http://www.itsfortheanimals.com/DODDS-CHG-VACC-PROTOCOLS.HTM
Thank you for much for the information you provide all of us.

Hi Ingrid – thanks for your comment. I love Dr. Dodds! She is involved with the Rabies Challenge Fund that I mentioned in this blog post, trying to provide data on just how long immunity lasts after we give animals the rabies vaccine. I posted some links to her website about thyroid disease on one of your earlier comments, as well as her book about thyroid disease – all well worth reading! Good for you for being your Katie’s best advocate – there’s no way she should have received any vaccines while fighting cancer. –Dr. Carney

When a dog recieves a rabies shot are they immune to rabies for the full three years? My question in in regards to why do humans need a booster if coming in contact with the virus even after getting the full set of pre-exposure vaccines?

Hello…thanks for your question. Yes, immunity is expected to last at least 3 years in a dog. However, if a dog has a suspected or known exposure to rabies even when vaccinated, we will give him or her a booster shot at that time. This is similar to what is done with humans. The reason for this is to stimulate the immune system to send out its army, which has already been primed to fight this enemy. Rabies is nearly 100% fatal once symptoms set in, so anything we can do prior to that time to defeat it is priority #1. Hope this clears things up! –Dr. Carney

Why is it that you can purchase rabies vaccines online for PA without being a licensed vet? I give all of my pets their DHLPP vaccines and it’s not like the rabies vaccine has to go in a vein. I even got rabies tags with the vaccine. But now find out that I can’t legally administer it to my pets. Is their any amendment allowing owners to vaccinate their pets for rabies?

Hello…it is a strange scenario that rabies vaccine and tags are sold to the general public, when the law doesn’t recognize the vaccine as valid unless it’s given by a licensed veterinarian. Giving your own rabies vaccine puts your animals at risk of quarantine or euthanasia in the event they bite someone, because of the rabies law. The law is written the way it is because rabies is nearly 100% fatal in people. Having rabies vaccination in the hands of medical professionals (veterinarians) provides the greatest amount of control over this public health concern. So, to answer your question, there is no amendment that allows pet owners to legally administer rabies vaccine to their pets. With all of the vaccine clinics available these days, it’s convenient and inexpensive to have your pet vaccinated by a veterinarian – and then you’re covered under the law. Thanks for writing – Dr. Carney